Chair construction



Oct. 13, 1964 R. A. SWAN CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1963 FIG.

" INVENTOR. ROBERT A. swmv AT TOE/VEYS Oct. 13, 1964 R. A. SWAN CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 6

INVENTOR. ROBERT A. SWAN Filed Feb. 5, 1965 ATTORN Y5 United States Patent Office 3,152,836 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 3,152,836 CHAIR CUNSTRUCTIGN Robert A. Swan, P.0. Box 1132, 621 N. Irwin St., Hartford, Calif. Filed Feb. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 256,285 6 Claims. or. 297-445 This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in chair construction, and more particularly in a chair frame and cushion.

An object of the invention is to provide'a chair frame of rigid, sturdy construction having generally integral component members.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and novel support members in a chair frame.

Still another is directed to the provision of an improved chair of construction which results in improved comfor particular construction of the chair permits the seat cushion to conform to the body of the user as the seat cushion is mounted so as to in effect be suspended from its edges. In this manner of construction, none of the structural members of the chair frame interrupt or contact the contoured form of the seat cushion, yet adequate support of the user is provided.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the component members of the chair frame; i

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the component members of the chair frame connected together;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the chair frame shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 7

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chair frame having a seat cushion and armrest mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of FIG. 4 of the back portion of the chair shown in FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged View of a corner portion of the I chair shown in FIG. 4.

The chair frame described herein may be constructed of tubular strap or bar metal or other suitable material such as wood or plastic. The various members com prising the chair frame are generally integral for the purpose of a streamlined overall appearance, but the objects of the invention will be achieved if the members are composed of any number of components suitably joined together to embody similar structure characteristics.

Referring to the drawings in more detailed, FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the metal chair frame. A frame seat member 1. is supported by an underlying support member 2 and a pair of side members Sand 4. e

. Frame seat member 1 is generally constructed of a continuous tubular metalbar made by joining its ends as at 5. The back transverse portion 6 is curved outwardly to provide a contoured effect and to support the back of g a person sitting in the chair. The frame seat member 1 her 1 and is generally of integral construction. Support member 2 is shaped to form a pair of transversely spaced apart front legs 11. A pair of transversely spaced apart inner seat supports 12 connect with legs 11 and are substantially coextensive with the bottom surface of the seat portions 8. A U-shaped portion of support member 2 generally designated 13, curves downwardly and rearwardly as at 14 and thereafter extends transversely as at 15, connecting the seat portions 8.

The side members 3 and 4 are also generally of integral construction, and are similarly shaped to form a back leg 16, an outer horizontal seat support 17, an upwardly extending and substantially vertical arm rest support portion 18, a rearwardly extending arm rest 19, and an upwardly extending terminus 20.

In shaping the various members of the chair frame it is intended, but not as a limitation, all changes in direction and junctions of the portions of a particular member be of rounded configuration in order to provide the most.

I are bolted to support member 2 as at 21 and 22 and are is shaped to form a pair of side frames 7 and a pair of V horizontal seat portions 8. Portions 9 of frame seat member I extend downwardly and curve outwardly from each seat portion 8 and join with the front transverse portion bolted to frame seat member 1 as at 23 and 24. Additionally, the frame seat member 1 is bolted to the support member 2 as at 25 and 26. As shown particularly in FIG. 3, frame seat member 1 is spaced apart a short distance fromsupport member 2 by spacers 27. The small space between the portions 8 and 12 of the members 1 and 2 allow the edges 28 of a cushion 29 to completely encircle the periphery of the frame seat as shown in FIG. 4, thereby permitting the cushion 29 to be easily mounted and replaced without disassembling the chair frame.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged portion of a corner of the back of the chair frame with the cushion 29 mounted thereon. Mounting is accomplished by having the cushion edges 28 encircle frame seat member 1 as at portion 6 and stitching 34 or other securing means are used to bind together edges28, an inner covering 31 and an outer covering 3%.

FIG. 5, a sectional view of the cushion mounted on the chair frame, shows in more detail the method of mounting and the construction of the cushion 29. The cushion has an outer covering 30 and an inner covering 31 and a plurality of substantially resilient pads 32 and 33 transversely disposed therebetween. The pads 32 are generally of greater width than the pads 33, but the size and orientation of the pads is not critical. The pads 32- and 33 are held in place between the coverings 39 and 31 by stitching 34 or other securing means disposed around the periphery of the pads andnot through the pads.

' The cushion 29 issuspended as described above by its edges portions 23 and must be constructed of a strong resilient or flexible material suchjas leather or plastic. The pads 32 and 33 are generally foam rubberor other suitable material which would provide the basis fora comfortable seat cushion. If plastic oranother synthetic material is used for the cushioncoverings 3t} and 31,'the stitching 34 may be replaced by an adhesive or a heat bond.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show' an arm rest cover 35 which is mounted coextensive with the arm rest 19 and secured ,thereto. The arm rest cover 35 may be constructed of wood or other suitable materialand maybe covered with a material similar to that which is used for the chair cushion coverings 3t and 31. The particular type of arm 7 rest cover 35 is not critical to the objects of the invention.

The described chair frame, when mounted with a chair cushion, provides a chair which is extremely comfortable and of pleasing appareance. These features are accomplished in particular by the novel shaping and positioning of the various component members. is an essential element of the invention in that when a person is sitting in the chair and cushion 29 adapts to the contour of the persons body, stability and support is provided without the use of any transverse structural members across the back or seat portions of the chair. This is accomplished by the use of the U-shaped portion 13 of support member 2 being formed downwardly and rearwardly as at 14 and then transversely as at 15, thereby being positioned below and spaced apart from the lowest point of detention of the cushion 2% when a person is sitting in the chair. An additional essential element of the invention are the side members 2 which support the 'U-shaped portion l3 and the rear of the chair frame 1 and which are also shaped to provide an arm rest 1? and a'terminusltl which acts to support the back portion 7.

Generally integral components shaped and connected as herein described, and constructed of a light weight material, form a chair frame which is stable, sturdy and has the attendantfeature of being easily manufactured.

What I claim is:

1. A metal chair frame comprising a pair of side members spaced apart transversely by a support member and connected thereto, a contoured seat frame member mounted on and connected to said side members and said support member and supported thereby, each side member being formed of a metal bar having a first terminal end for contact with a from, each of said side members having a first portion extending upwardly from the terminal end to form a back leg, each of said side members having a second portion extending from said first portion and curving forwardly therefrom to form an outer horizontal seat support, said side members having a third portion curving upwardly and rearwardly from said second portion and forming an arm rest portion and a second terminal end, said second terminal and joined with said seat frame, said support member formed of a metal bar having two terminal ends for contact with the floor, said support member having a. firstportion extending upwardly from each of its terminal ends to form a pair. of transversely spaced apart front legs, said support member having a second portion extending rearwardly and horizontally 7 seat frame member shaped to outline a substantially vertical back portion and a substantially horizontal seat portion said horizontal seat-portion generally coextensive with and connected to the inner seat supports of said support memberQ V g 2. In a chair frame, the improvementcomprising means for supporting a frame seat member haying a substan-' tially horizontal seat-portion joined a'substantially verticalback portion, said means comprising a pair of integral, side members oppositely disposed about said framesat member and connected thereto and an integral support member underlying and connected to said horizontal seat portion of said frame seat member, said support member having a pair of substantially vertically ex tending and transversely-spaced apart frontlegs, a U- shaped portion and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a pair (if-transversely spaced apart inner seat supports extending rearwardly and horizontal Support member 2 i therebetween,

, I 4 1y from each front leg, said inner seat support underlying said horizontal seat portion of the frame seat member and being connected thereto in spaced and generally parallel relation, said inner seat supports spaced transversely and connected by said U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portion extending rearwardly and downwardly from each of the inner seat supports and then extending transversely therebetween, each of said side members having a first portion extending upwardly and forwardly from a floor and forming a back leg, each of said side members having a second portion extending forwardly and horizontally from said first portion and forming an outer seat support, said outer seat support substantially coextensive to a side of the inner seat support of said support member, each of said side members having a third portion extending upwardly and approximately vertically from said second portion and forming an arm rest support, each of said side members having afourth portion extending rearwardly and horizontally from said third portion and forming an arm rest, each of said side members having a fifth portion extending upwardly from said fourth portion and connecting with the back portion of said frame seat member,

each of :said'side members also connected to said inner member, said frame seat member connected to said third member, said frame seat member having a chair cushion suspended'therefrom, said cushion lying within the confines of said metal bar of said frame seat member and in substantially the same plane as the frame seat member, whereby the occupant of the chair is supported by the chair cushion, the frame seat member, the side members and the third member.

4-. A chair construction defined in claim 6 wherein said seat cushion comprises a flexible inner covering, a flexible outer covering and a plurality of resilient pad members I coextensively disposed therebetween, said inner and said outer coverings being coextensive at a small portion about each pad, means to secure said outer and said inner coverings together whereby said pads are immovably positioned said cushion having an edge portion formed by said outer covering being larger than said inner covering, said edge portion extending about the periphery of said cushion for attaching said cushion to said chairframel 5. A chair frame comprising a frame seat member formed by joining the ends of a metal bar together, said frame seat member having a horizontal seat portion and a substantially vertical back portion, a pair of integral side members oppositely disposed about and spaced -transversely apart by said frame seat member, each of said side members having a first end for contact with a floor, each of said side members extending upwardly and forwardly from said end and forming a back leg, each "of said side members thereafter extending forwardly and horizontally and forming an outer seat support, each of said side members, thereafter curving upwardly and extending vertically to form an arm rest support portion,

each of said side members thereafter extending rearwardly and horizontally and forming an arm rest, each 'of said side members then extending upwardly and forming a 'second end, eachjofj said sidemembers connected and'coextensive atits outer support and second end to said frame seat member, an integral third member underlying said frame seatmemberbetween said'side members, said third member having two ends for contact with a floor, said third member extending upwardly from said ends and forming a pair of transversely space apart front legs, said third member then extending rearwardly and horizontally from each front leg and forming a pair of transversely spaced apart inner seat supports, said third member thereafter extending transversely between and connecting said inner seat supports, said third member underlying and connected to said frame seat member in spaced relation thereto, and said third member connected to the outer seat supports of each of said side members.

6. A chair construction comprising a chair frame and a seat cushion mounted thereon; said chair frame comprising a pair of side members spaced apart transversely by a support member and connected thereto; a contoured seat frame member mounted on and connected to said side members and said support member and supported thereby; said seat cushion being mounted on said seat frame member; each of said side members having a first terminal end for contact with a floor, a first portion extending upwardly from the terminal end to form a back leg, a second portion extending from said first portion and curving forwardly therefrom to form an outer horizontal seat support, and a third portion curving upwardly and rearwardly from said second portion and forming an arm rest portion and a second terminal end; said second terminal end joining with said seat frame; said support member having two terminal ends for contact with the floor, a first portion extending upwardly from each of its terminal ends to form a pair of transversely spaced apart front legs, a second portion extending rearwardly and horizontally from each of said front legs of said first portion to form a pair of transversely spaced apart inner seat supports, and a third portion extending transversely between said spaced inner seat supports; said side members being connected to said support member at each of the inner supports thereof; said seat frame member formed by having its ends joined together and thereby being substantially continuous and shaped to outline a substantially vertical back portion and a substantially horizontal seat portion; said horizontal seat portion being generally coextensive with and connected to the inner seat supports of said support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,708,484 Lamb May 31, 1955 2,897,880 Panicci Aug. 4, 1959 2,901,028 Botemiller Aug. 25, 1959 2,938,575 Molla May 31, 1960 2,962,089 Cohen Nov. 29, 1960 2,965,160 Knoll Dec. 20, 1960 2,979,122 Knoll April 11, 1961 3,041,109 Eames et al June 26, 1962 3,073,649 De Montfort Jan. 15, 1963 

1. A METAL CHAIR FRAME COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE MEMBERS SPACED APART TRANSVERSELY BY A SUPPORT MEMBER AND CONNECTED THERETO, A CONTOURED SEAT FRAME MEMBER MOUNTED ON AND CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SUPPORTED THEREBY, EACH SIDE MEMBER BEING FORMED OF A METAL BAR HAVING A FIRST TERMINAL END FOR CONTACT WITH A FLOOR, EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE TERMINAL END TO FORM A BACK LEG, EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A SECOND PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST PORTION AND CURVING FORWARDLY THEREFROM TO FORM AN OUTER HORIZONTAL SEAT SUPPORT, SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A THIRD PORTION CURVING UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID SECOND PORTION AND FORMING AN ARM REST PORTION AND A SECOND TERMINAL END, SAID SECOND TERMINAL END JOINED WITH SAID SEAT FRAME, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FORMED OF A METAL BAR HAVING TWO TERMINAL ENDS FOR CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM EACH OF ITS TERMINAL ENDS TO FORM A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED APART FRONT LEGS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A SECOND PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND HORIZONTALLY FROM EACH OF SAID FRONT LEGS OF SAID FIRST PORTION TO FORM A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED APART INNER SEAT SUPPORTS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A THIRD PORTION THEREAFTER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID SPACED INNER SAID SUPPORTS, SAID SIDE MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AT EACH OF THE INNER SUPPORTS THEREOF, SAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER FORMED OF A METAL BAR HAVING ITS ENDS JOINED TOGETHER AND THEREBY BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS, SAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER SHAPED TO OUTLINE A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL BACK PORTION AND A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SEAT PORTION, SAID HORIZONTAL SEAT PORTION GENERALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH AND CONNECTED TO THE INNER SEAT SUPPORTS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER. 